Marathon author to appear at Medford’s Bestsellers Café on May 3

Friday

May 2, 2014 at 1:57 PM

By Brittney McNamarabmcnamara@wickedlocal.com

Every April since 1990, Paul Clerici’s feet have pounded the pavement some 24 miles before he passed under a thin, rectangular sign at the intersection of Beacon and St. Mary’s Streets reading, "Boston Line."Crossing into the city, Clerici reached the home stretch of the Boston Marathon with only 2.2 miles left, noticing nearly every landmark from the race’s start in Hopkinton to its finish in Copley Square, except that small city line sign. With discoveries like that one, Walpole native Clerici compounded his race knowledge into a by-the-mile guidebook for runners, spectators and memorabilia collectors alike.Published last week by the History Press, Clerici’s book "Boston Marathon History by the Mile" offers a foot tour through the race’s eight towns, including history and fun sights along the way. For a non-runner, the book offers a look into what a marathoner sees through the 26.2 miles, Clerici said, and for racers it gives little course facts that only one with intimate knowledge of the race would know.From a singer in Natick Center to the loud cheers of the Wellesley College women, personalized banners from family barbecues and a line of mirrors in Framingham, Clerici said the landmarks offer a break in what can be the overwhelming task of running a marathon."Rarely does someone standing at the starting line say, ‘I’m going to do 26 miles,’" Clerici said. "[The landmarks] do make it go by."After running the race 23 times, and covering it as a journalist, Clerici gathered a body of knowledge that the average spectator or runner might not possess. Some things about the course, after so many years, still stumped him, however.Typically upon entering the city of Boston, one is greeted with a large sign, welcoming and declaring it Mayor Menino’s territory, though now outdated. Where marathon runners cross city lines from Brookline heading toward Kenmore Square, Clerici said he never saw that traditional welcome sign.Details like this sparked him to write the compendium of race knowledge, he said. He found the sign was a small one, an original Boston city limits sign. In his research, Clerici also found out the history behind a statue placed in Newton near heartbreak hill, turned around to face the finish line. He learned about a race front-runner tripping over a dog, and about a bicycle crash nearly preventing a win in the era when each racer had a cyclist alongside them. Clerici learned of road adjustments that accidentally shortened the course and caused record finish times. All included in his book, Clerici said more than anything, "Boston Marathon History by the Mile" is race memorabilia."I didn’t want a straight running book, I didn’t want a training book, I wanted a variety of audiences," Clerici said. "It’s a souvenir."Broken into chapters for each town the marathon passes through, the last chapter of the book is a memorial to those who have lost their lives in the marathon. Most notably, the chapter focuses on last year’s bombing, describing the quick response and the community that strengthened as a result."People like [the Boston Marathon] because of the history," Clerici said. "The generations that come out, you see kids growing up. That’s why [the attack] was such an affront."Still raw in the memories of Boston natives, Clerici said the attack will slowly become another part of the race’s history. Moving forward, Clerici said runners will have twice the resolve they had before to show up for the race and finish it for those who couldn’t last year."It’s an event, not a race," he said.Like any tragedy, as people become distanced form it, Clerici said it will become less and less a defining factor of the race and more sad memory. The stories people carry from that day, whether runners, spectators or someone who knew someone else, Clerici said will forever connect the community.More than anything, Clerici said the Boston Marathon is about connections. Runners make connections with each other, with spectators, with families, with the course. And vice versa. In his book, Clerici said he takes those connections deeper, providing context and history that delve into the marathon’s roots."Stories bring everyone together," he said. "For good or for bad, I think it strengthens a lot of people."Clerici’s book is on currently available in bookstores and online at historypress.net for $16.99. He will appear on the following dates for book signingsIF YOU GOPaul Clerici will appear at Bestsellers Cafe, 24 High St., Medford, on Saturday, May 3 at 1 p.m. For more information, call the store at 781-391-7171.